Xen'drik. The Continent of Mysteries

[Styx]

Stormreach: Arguable one of the worst place on the face of Eberron. Easily the worst in Xen'drik...not counting the stew pots of giants, certain rituals of the Drow, or the dungeons of the Inspired of course. Filled with corruption and ruled my thieves, one would be hard pressed to find a larger collection of pirates, cutthroats, and other scum.
But besides all that, It wasn't too bad of a place, provided you stepped lightly and had some inkling of what you were doing. There was always money to be made, things to be seen, and always the whole continent of Xen'drik to be explored.

Our story begins as one Reyner Cascade, after over a month of sailing, storms and Sahuagin, checks into a seafront dive named Tangled Nets. He's been sent over, trip paid in full, by House Caneth. His only instructions are to come to this inn and speak to Dorath. If he's approved, he'll be hired on for an expedition deep into Xen'drik, hunting for what ever Caneth wants. If not...it's a long swim home.

Tangled Nets is like any other dockside dive. High population of drunks, scum, and sailors, in that order. the Floor is trashed and and tells the tale of many a barfight and spilled ale. The bartender is a veritable mountain. His orc heritage shows strongly and his one good eye seem to see everything in his bar

 

[Eladrass]

Rey'ner moseyed into the run-down hole-in-the-dock. He knew the second he caught a whiff of the place that he would have to be on guard.
"What a great first day off the boat this is going to be,"he whispered to himself wryly.
Who would House Cannith be dealing with that would reside in this grungy old place, he thought. Rayner double checked his belongings to make sure all of it was there. He was almost certain SOMETHING would end up missing, and he was hoping that something wasnt his blood. Rayner took a quick look around for anything out of place, or, in this case, something suspicious would probably be IN place (SPOT 16+4=20). He drifts quickly to any open stools at the bar and breathes up the courage to address the one eyed bartender.
Ahoy! I'll be takin' a cup o' ale and the story behind ye troubled eye!" Rayner exclaimed as he set the 4 silver pieces in loudly on the counter. All he wanted to do was fit in long enough get accepted and be on his way into the jungle.

 

[Styx]

In a place such as this, Rey'ner draws more than a little attention. It's not too often that elves frequent bars like this, nor do they carry such gear. But most of the parton look away after a moment. Anyone that carriers that many blades is either crazy, or good with them.
The bartender already has his eye on him as he approaches the bar. He craks a toothy ad fanged smile the the remark and weeps up the coins with a look before turning to fetch the ale. He returns a second later with a large tankerd of a darky heady brew. It smells nothing like what everyone else is drinking. it has more of a pleasant nutty smell. "Well, let's just be saying that Drow fight dirty in a tussle, and on of them chains can move faster than you think" He leaned down on the bar and looked closely at Rey'ner "What be your business here kid? Ya got the smell of the sea on yah, but your looking like ya gotta purpose."

 

[Eladrass]

Rayner smirks more to himself than to his toothy-grinned bartender. A month on the sea will leave a smell for sure. And if that didn't give it away, the stagger from spending that much time on a rocking boat sure did. Rayner swigs the ale tentativly and wipes his mouth with his sleeve. Sure, not many elves frequent this place, but Rayner was pretty gruff for an elf, yet he wasnt at all surprised at the greeting he received.
"Aye, I've got a purpose," his voice low enough so only the barkeep could hear." Have ye heard of a man by the name of Dorath? I's told he's awaitin here for meh.

 

[Styx]

"Dorath huh? I haven't seen him in over a week." He moved about the the bar serving other patrons. "I'm hoping your ship was early, because if you be running late, he might already be gone." He leave for a moment to fetch himself a mug of the same heady ale. "Last I heard he was going off on another mad dash through the jungle." He sudders "That be no place for a man, and a good place to get dead fast"

 

[Eladrass]

Rayner laughs loudly at this. "I sure hope he hasn't left, he'll surly be dead without me! If ye hear anythin' about him, me name's Cascade, Rayner Cascade." Rayner puts two more silver on the bar and motions to keep the drinks coming. He looks around for anyone eyeing him too interestedly -aware that wearing many blades has a tendency of attracting challengers just as easily it deters them- or anyone that matches the description of Dorath. (SPOT 23)

 

[Styx]

"So your the young blood that signed on for this venture?" He said with a laugh "then he be LONG gone. Ya see, he's got this real funny thing of testing new guys. Sink or swim, if you be getting my meaning?" He winked is one good eye knowingly
A few people seem to be paying attention, but you're unsure if it's because you're new, or throwing money around. A pair seem to be paying more attention to you after you toss down the silver though

 

[Eladrass]

"Sink or swim." I repeated to myself. I thought for a moment and decided that I'd rather enjoy a little fun, a little adventure. I knew of the traveler's curse of Xen'drik. How much head start he got didn't matter. A day or week, it wouldn't matter, it could take hours or months, if ever, to catch up to him again. I glanced quickly and dangerously to those who showed more than their fair-share of interest. I wouldn't want to have to hurt anyone on my first day in Stormreach, however, I had to admit that from what I heard, it was to be expected.
"Did he give a bearin' to where 'e was headed?" I asked cooly and calmly, showing no sign of fear or worry that I had missed my mark.

 

[Styx]

"Not that I heard. All he told me was deep into the jungle" He thought for a second "you might have som' better luck where he's staying. The Ship's Cat, out in Southwatch. He stays there mostly when he's in town"

 

[Eladrass]

"Well, then, thank ye for yer time. Would ye be able ter point me in the right direction?" I told the barkeep. I kept a vigilant eye on the rest of the bar, watching my back for any daggers pointed in my general direction. [SPOT 23]

 

[Styx]

"Southward is the most south east district, when ya be gettin' there just ask around, they'll point ya right"
Those two still seem to have an eye on you. They're taking more than friendly interest.

(I am using the real Stormreach map, so feel free to use it if you have it)

 

[Eladrass]

"Much appreciated mate! Cheers" Not wanting any sort of unfriendly confrontations, I quickly headed out of the bar and in the direction the barkeep pointed me in. I kept an eye over my shoulder on the way out, more than half-expecting to be followed. My hands listed lazily to the hilt of Pierce, my trusty blade.